Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs Take First Step in Creating Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record

By IBT Staff Reporter On 04/09/09 AT 2:19 PM

The Obama administration announced Thursday that President Barack Obama has announced that the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs have taken the first step in creating a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record.

Currently, there is no comprehensive system in place that allows for a streamlined transition of health care records between DOD and the VA.

Under this new program, both departments will work together to define and build a system that will ultimately contain administrative and medical information from the day an individual enters military service throughout their military career, and after they leave the military.

Access to electronic records is important to modern health care delivery and the paperless administration of benefits, the administration said in its statement.

It provides a framework to ensure that all health care providers have all the information they need to deliver high-quality health care while reducing medical errors.

The statement also reflected on the Defense Department's budget proposal, which the administration says will fully protect and properly fund the growth in military end strength in the base budget; continue the steady growth in medical research and development by requesting $400 million more than last year; reorganize the critical and permanent nature of wounded, ill and injured, traumatic brain injury, and psychological health programs; and increases funding by $200 million for improvements in child care, spousal support, lodging, and education.

Further noted in the statement was the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget, which the administration says will increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs by $25 billion above baseline over the next five years; increase funding for veterans health care; expand eligibility for veterans' health care to over 500,000 veterans who were previously denied care by 2013; and enhance outreach and services related to mental health care and cognitive injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, with a focus on access for veterans in rural areas.